After receiving so many Howlers that he could no longer fit all of their ashes in a single jar, James came up with a rather interesting approach to quelling the rants that boomed from the scarlet letters every other week.
Whenever he would see a howler winging its way towards him James would catch it quickly, open it, then dump a jug of milk over the top of it and rest his heels on the upturned bottom until the gurgled yells had ceased.
Of course this method would have worked... if McGonagall hadn't been so touchy about the tablecloths... and the floor... and whoever happened to be in the splash zone.
She also did not appreciate his 'no crying over spilt milk' joke either.
Needless to say James spent most of his Saturday mopping the Great Hall's massive floor.
He learnt from then on that he had to be stealthier about his pranks.
He also learnt that if McGonagall caught you having a mop fight with your best friend when you were supposed to be working, she wouldn't be pleased.
Oh and he also found out that if you try to run from McGonagall and snatch her hat in an attempt at a distraction, it wouldn't end well.
Let's just say that in was a busy month for detentions.